A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with one of the fires burning in the US state of California.

Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, one count of felony threat to terrorise, and one count of misdemeanour resisting arrest, according to officials at Cleveland National Forest.

The Holy Fire has blackened nearly 10 square miles (6,400 acres) of brush and timber in the national forest, which is south of Los Angeles.

Several small mountain communities nearby have been evacuated and 385 firefighters, 10 helicopters and seven fixed-wing aircraft are trying to fight the blaze.

About a dozen homes have been destroyed but it is not known how many people are affected.

The fire is just 5% contained, fire authorities have said.

Clark is being held on a $1m (£780,000) bail and is set to appear in court on Thursday.

Image:The Ranch Fire is just 46% contained and the weather is not helping firefighters

Meanwhile, a number of other fires continue to burn across the western states of the US, the largest of which is the Mendocino Complex, made up of the River and Ranch fires.